Peer-to-Peer Substance Abuse Education Program

Transcription

1 Peer-to-Peer Substance Abuse Education Program Stephanie Sloan Sr. Drug Abuse Educator Suffolk County Division of Community Mental Hygiene Lori Hewlett Chairperson for Secondary Health Education/Peer-to-Peer Advisor Sachem Central School District Patty Broderick Secondary Health Educator/Teens as Teacher Advisor Sachem Central School District

2 What Is Peer-to-Peer Education?

3 Overview The Peer- to- Peer Substance Abuse Educa4on program was born out of a partnership between Suffolk County and Sachem Central School District in order to: ü help proac4vely address the growing problem of substance use and abuse among our children. ü inform and educate our youth on how to make healthy choices specifically regarding drugs and alcohol. ü give youth the opportunity to develop and u4lize leadership skills and act as posi4ve role models for their peers.

4 Implementation The implementa4on of the program calls for students to collabora4vely work with one another, educa4ng their younger peers, on how to stay drug- free and empower them with the skills to make health enhancing decisions. ü The program involves training high school students to teach an evidenced- based substance abuse preven4on curriculum to middle school students using a peer educa4on model. ü The long term goal is to establish a self- sustaining program that Sachem can build upon, as well as, to create a peer- to- peer model that can be implemented in other school districts.

5 Program Design ü High School Middle School Peer Educa4on ü Too Good for Drugs Substance Abuse Preven4on program ü Have gradua4on event for par4cipa4ng students/parents Program Plan ü Select peer educators from both high schools ü Train Peer educators in Too Good for Drugs curriculum ü Deliver 4-5 Peer- to- Peer lessons to 6 th Grade classes in all four middle schools

6 Program Build ü High school peer educators to train new peer educators ü Middle school elementary school peer educa4on ü Develop and incorporate an elec4ve peer educa4on HS class Program Test ü Two high school middle school pilot lessons ü Teens as Teachers club members as Peer Educators ü Two 7 th grade MS health educa4on classes used in pilot

7 Program Evaluation ü High school peer educators complete evalua4on ü Middle school par4cipants complete topic cri4que ü Advisors debrief and discuss successes & challenges

8 A Look Back.

9 1st "Pilot" Peer- to- Peer Educa2on Lesson 5/13/2015 2nd "Pilot" Peer- to- Peer Educa2on Lesson 5/21/2015 Substance Abuse Educa2on Task Force Mee2ng 10/6/2014 Community Stake- holder Mee2ng 12/10/2014 Sachem Central School District "Kick Off" Event 1/14/2015 Final Teens as Teachers Mee2ng/Wrap Up 6/2/2015 Last of 12 "Raising Healthy Substance- Free Children" Elementary Presenta2ons 6/4/2015 Oct Nov Dec 2015 Feb Mar Apr May Jun 2015 Mee2ng with Sachem Principals 3/12/2015 1st mee2ng with the Teens as Teachers Club 3/24/2015 1st of 12 "Raising Healthy Substance- Free Children" Elementary Presenta2ons 3/26/2015 1st training session with Peer Educators 4/14/2015 "Too Good for Drugs" Training 4/22/2015 Mee2ng with Sachem Health Educators 3/11/2015

10 Why is Peer Education Important?

11 Peer Education.. Improves the quality of life at their school Help students gain skills to be role models for their peers Helps to make school a better place Is dedicated to creating & supporting healthy, safe and welcoming schools.

12 Benefits of Peer Education Develop transferrable and marketable skills Recognitio n for achieveme nt Acquire new knowledge Gain personal satisfaction Learn new things about yourself

13 Who Are the Peer Educators?

14 Peer Educators Qualities Leadership abilities: independent thought, dependable, organized NON USER of ATOD Team player: respectful of others, empathetic, open-minded Positive self-image: Confident, engaging, friendly, caring, and personable! Effective communicator: articulate, good nonverbal skills, sincere, diplomatic, good listener, enthusiastic!

15 Too Good For Drugs Curriculum Training

16 Too Good For Drugs Curriculum Training ü Training was held on April 22, 2015 at Sachem East in the Li]le Theatre! ü High school students from Sachem North and Sachem East were trained in TGFD grades 6-8. ü Sachem Health Educators, Drug and Alcohol Counselors, and Peer Educa4on Advisors also a]ended the training. ü Peer Educators were given the opportunity to work in a team and present a lesson to all other a]endees. (seen here)

17 Pilot Lesson #1 Two Peer Educators teaching a 7th grade Health Educa2on class Communica2on Skills. 1. How to communicate effec4vely 2. Difference between verbal & non- verbal communica4on 3. How tone of voice, facial expressions, & body language can affect meaning 4. Dis4nguish between asser4ve, aggressive, & passive communica4on styles

18 Pilot Lesson #2 Four Peer Educators are teaching a 7th grade Health Educa2on class a lesson about Peers and their influence, both posi2ve & nega2ve. 1. How to iden4fy and refuse peer pressures 2. NINE specific refusal strategies 3. U4lizing asser4veness in those refusal strategies. 4. Iden4fy benefits of associa4ng with peers who make healthy decisions.

19 Role Play Students use role play to help iden4fy how peer pressure can lead to unhealthy choices!

20 Role Play Students, with the help of the Peer Educators, use role play to help iden4fy how peers can be a posi4ve influence on our decision making!

21 How To Become a Peer Educator?

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23 Peer Educator Statement of Non- Use of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs.

24 Parent LeXer and Consent Form for student par2cipa2on

25 Teacher Consent Form for student par2cipa2on

26 Future Plans for Peer Education ü Self Sustaining Program ü Peer Educa4on Class? ü Con4nued support throughout district, BOE, and community ü Roll Out to School Districts in Suffolk County ü Peer Educa4on Presenta4on ü Training & Development

27 Contact Information Stephanie Sloan Sr. Drug Abuse Educator Suffolk County Division of Community Mental Hygiene Lori Hewlett Chairperson for Secondary Health Education/Peer-to-Peer Advisor Sachem Central School District Patty Broderick Secondary Health Educator/Teens as Teacher Advisor Sachem Central School District